Chapter Six
It's been a month now since Henry had lent me that money. We've been doing pretty good. Bethany and I had stretched the cash out for a good week, but like all good things that cross my path, it had to come to an end. My job at the Barnaby's Diner outside of town has been treating us well, though, and I couldn't be more happy with it. All I did was escort the customers to their tables and relay the specials and soups for that day to them. It was a simple job and I made enough cash to feed Bethany and I while also putting money aside to pay this month's bills.
Today we were short handed on staff and from lunchtime on we have been packed with people. I had people waiting for half an hour just to be seated; they'd have to wait another half hour just for Chef Reed to prepare their meals. It was a mess and poor Bridget, one of the waitresses that I had gotten close with since I started here, was going crazy trying to keep up with the tables she was waiting on. "You need a hand, Bridge?"
She flipped her head up from picking up her notebook and shook her shaggy bangs out of her green eyes. "Oh, could you, Maddie? You would be doing me such a huge favor."
"Of course. It's no big deal, really." My nimble fingers slid her strands of brown hair behind her ear. She gave me a gentle smile, coated in relief, and then continued to grab her notebook and straighten out her spine.
"Thank you so much." Her arms quickly pulled me in for a short hug. "I owe you one! Big time!" She yelled to me as she ran to pick up her orders from the kitchen. She was a cute girl; only nineteen and trying to save up for a college trip to Italy she was going on the up coming summer. She was ambitious and studious, making me regret dropping out of school. If I had gone back that fall, Bethany and I could've had a much easier life than living off of minimum wadge and occasional tips. But then again, if I had gone back to school, there would be no Bethany for me to care for.
Bridget handled a larger part of the non-smoking section in the diner so we split the tables between the two of us. I waited on the four booths by the windows and she waited on the five tables that were more ideal for couples. "Hi," I greeted my first family to serve. "A table for four? And a high chair for the little one?"
"Yes, please. Thank you, Ma'am." The father said as he followed me back to a booth in the corner. He held the baby's car seat in front of him as he walked while the mother trailed behind with their other two children. The three of them piled into the booth while the mother placed her calm, infant into his special chair next to me. I couldn't help but notice how beautiful their children were. "That's very kind of you to say. Thank you."
The mother had turned to disapline the older kids, a boy and girl, who had been goofing around since they got into the diner. Through the blinds, a ray of sunlight brought out the sparkling red in the little girl's hair. She reminded me of Bethany; she laughed a little bit like her and she was around the same age. Then, once I took a mental step back, I noticed something strange about what I was looking at. This could've been me. I could've been that mother, yelling at her kids to settle down while Peter made funny faces and sounds at our baby. The more I stared, the more they looked like Bethany, Peter, and I. And the more they looked like us, the more empty I felt with each breath I took. By the time they had placed their order, I was just about ready to pass out.
There were more families that I brought in and waited on now, but everytime I passed them I made sure to check on them and the kids. They were my main concern. I even called the daughter Bethany as I placed her food in front of her. "Oh, I'm so sorry. It's just, that's my daughter's name and you sort of look like her." They all just stared at me as I awkwardly rotated a tray in my hands. "Well, enjoy."
